Guides

One question per guide, answered with odds computed by code. New guides are added regularly.

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House edge of every game

Every bet compared, from the cheapest to the dearest.

Blackjack

Basic strategy chart and what each rule costs.

Roulette

European, French, American and triple-zero wheels.

Baccarat

Banker, player and tie from every deal of the shoe.

Craps

From the pass line and free odds to one-roll bets.

Expected loss calculator

Turn any house edge into money.

No double after split: what the blackjack rule costs

Learn how restricting doubling after splits increases the house edge and alters basic strategy charts for blackjack.

Keno odds: how fast the chance to catch every spot falls

Keno odds drop sharply as spot counts rise because each additional spot multiplies by a smaller fraction of remaining drawn numbers.

The Big Six money wheel: even its cheapest bet costs four times a roulette bet

The Big Six wheel carries a high house edge on every segment, far exceeding the cost of bets on European roulette.

Blackjack without basic strategy: stopping at 17 costs about ten times as much

Basic strategy reduces the house edge significantly compared to a simple stop-at-seventeen rule, though the advantage remains.

Sic Bo odds: big and small cost least, triples cost the most

Sic Bo odds vary by bet type, with big and small offering the lowest house edge while specific triples cost significantly more.

Pass or don't pass: the difference a 12 makes

Compare the house edge of pass and don't pass bets, understand the odds bet, and see how short-term results vary from long-term averages.

Banker or player: why the baccarat banker bet is cheaper even after commission

The banker hand wins more often due to acting last, yet commission costs make the player bet slightly cheaper overall.

When the dealer hits soft 17: a small rule with a measurable cost

Learn how the dealer hitting a soft seventeen increases the house edge and what this small rule change means for your expected return.

Craps one-roll bets: the most expensive corner of the table

One-roll bets in craps carry significantly higher house edges than the pass line due to payout structures that favor the casino.

The Martingale on red: many small wins, one rare heavy loss

The Martingale strategy on red yields frequent small wins but suffers rare heavy losses, keeping the house edge constant.

How often the blackjack dealer busts, card by card

The dealer busts most often with small up-cards like six and least with an ace, shaping basic strategy decisions.

La partage: the roulette rule that halves the house edge on even-money bets

La partage returns half the stake on even-money bets when zero appears, reducing the house edge compared to standard rules.

The baccarat tie bet: 8 to 1 on a result that pays far less than it should

The tie bet carries a high house edge because ties occur less often than the payout ratio suggests, making it costlier than the banker bet.

European vs American roulette: the zero that doubles the price

Compare the house edge of European and American roulette wheels to understand how extra pockets affect long-term costs.

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